About Us

The Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko is a national, chartered philanthropic institution dedicated to the preservation, promotion and development of the Ukrainian Canadian cultural heritage and to the advancement of a flourishing Ukrainian community for the enrichment of Canada by providing leadership in building and sustaining a permanent endowment fund.

Our Vision

The Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko will be a premier not-for-profit foundation inspiring community development in a Canada that acknowledges Ukrainian Canadians as nation-builders and a fundamental component of Canadian society.

Values Statement and Core Values

The Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko respects the past, celebrates the present and promotes the future of the Ukrainian community in Canada with the synergy of all stakeholders including grantees, donors, supporters, volunteers, staff and Board members.

Our History

In 1959 the Ukrainian community in Canada embarked on a significant undertaking – to place a monument to Taras Shevchenko, Ukraine’s national poet, on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislature. $175,000 was raised for this endeavour.

Two years later, on July 9, 1961 nearly 10,000 Ukrainian Canadians from across the country gathered in Winnipeg to witness Prime Minister John G. Diefenbaker officially unveil the monument.

The fundraising for this monumental project led to a surplus of $30,000, which was invested into an endowment fund dedicated to the preservation and development of Ukrainian culture in Canada – the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko.